JPS637998B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steering mechanism for use with a ship's propulsion mechanism.

Prior art steering systems having a single flexible push-pull cable have the disadvantage of sag or sag, which is particularly noticeable when changing steering direction. That is, a push-pull cable includes an inner core and an outer casing or cover surrounding the inner core, with the outer diameter of the inner core being several times larger than the inner diameter of the outer casing. Due to the small size, in the direction of pushing of the casing, the inner core is compressed within the outer casing and becomes wavy or meandering. This waving of the inner core inside the outer casing causes the steering mechanism to move in the cable pushing direction, and in the cable pulling direction, the inner core is once elongated from this wavy state. Then, the tension in the core causes the steering mechanism to move.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art single push-pull cable steering mechanisms as described above, and by providing dual flexible push-pull cables. A ship's steering mechanism adapted to remove slack by providing a device for manually adjustably displacing the inner core and outer casing of one of the push-pull cables relative to each other. This is what we provide.

That is, according to the present invention, a steering mechanism used together with a ship's propulsion mechanism includes: a housing fixed to a ship's hull; a steering shaft rotatably supported by the housing; and a ship's propulsion mechanism. a first flexible press adapted to be connected to and including an outer casing and an inner core;
a second flexible push-pull cable adapted to be connected to the ship's propulsion mechanism and including an outer casing and an inner core; each outer casing secured to the housing; a connecting device for connecting the inner core to the steering shaft for causing movement of the inner core relative to the outer casing in response to rotation of the steering shaft; A ship's steering system in which one of the push-pull cables is adapted to take slack out of the steering mechanism by manually adjustable adjustable displacement of the inner core and outer casing of one of the push-pull cables relative to each other. A mechanism is provided.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a ship 11 equipped with a ship propulsion system 13 equipped with a steering mechanism according to the invention. The ship propulsion device 13 includes a ship propulsion mechanism 15, a steering helm 17, and a ship propulsion mechanism 15 and a steering helm 17.
and a steering mechanism 11 including a pair of flexible push-pull cables 19, 21 extending between.

More specifically, the propulsion mechanism 15 of the illustrated ship
includes a first part or stern bracket 25 adapted to be fixedly connected to the hull 11 in a manner conventional in the art when using outboard motors.

The ship's propulsion mechanism 15 also includes a second component or swivel bracket 2 tiltably connected to the stern bracket 25 by means including a hollow tilting tube 29.
7, the tilt tube 29 extending through parallel holes in the stern bracket and the swivel bracket to define a tilt axis. Nuts 31 are provided at both ends of the inclined tube 29, and the inclined tube 29 and
The swivel bracket 27 and the stern bracket are held in interlocking relationship to prevent relative movement between them in the axial direction of the canted tube 29.

The ship's propulsion mechanism 15 is also an internal combustion engine (not shown).
It also includes a third part or propulsion unit comprising a partially shown power head 37 containing a propeller 41 driven by an engine and a partially shown lower unit 39 containing a propeller 41 which is normally positioned underwater. There is.

The propulsion unit 35 is connected to the swivel bracket 27 for rotational movement relative to the swivel bracket 27 about a central pin 43 which extends from the propulsion unit 35 and connects to the inclined tube 29.
defines a pivot axis extending in a plane perpendicular to the tilt axis defined by. The propulsion unit can therefore also perform a tilting movement about the tilting axis via the swivel bracket. A steering arm 45 also extends from the propulsion unit and carries out a steering movement together with the propulsion unit 35.

One or more sections 51 are formed which are fixed to the universal bracket 27 and which extend through both sides of the inclined tube 29, each section extending in parallel relation to the axis of the inclined tube 29 and having holes aligned with each other. Contains. Hollow regulating tubes 53 extend through these holes. Means are provided for adjustably securing the adjustment tube 53 relative to the portion 51 of the universal bracket 27. In the illustrated construction, such means are mounted on a thread on the outer surface of the adjustment tube 53 and engage on either side of one of the sections 51 to axially move the adjustment tube on the swivel bracket 27. and a locking nut for locking in the adjusted position.

The steering helm 17 includes a suitable housing 61 fixedly supported on the hull 11 and including a pair of opposing sides 63,65. A steering shaft 67 is supported by the housing 61, and the steering shaft is rotatable about its axis relative to the housing. The steering shaft supports a steering wheel 69 on the outside of the housing 61.

Both flexible push-pull cables 19 and 21 are of substantially similar construction, each including an outer casing 71 and an inner core 73 movable longitudinally within the outer casing 71.

The outer casing 71 of the flexible push-pull cables 19, 21 is connected to the steering housing 61 and the inclined tube 29 and the regulating tube 53 of the ship's propulsion mechanism 15.
A connecting device is provided for a fixed connection to. In this regard, although various constructions are possible, the steering helm 17 includes two adjacent hollow nipples 77 supported on the sides 63 of the housing 61 and having threads on their outer surfaces. Furthermore, the outer casing 71 has nipples 77 at each adjacent end.
supports a female socket 79 which is threadedly engaged with one side of the housing to securely connect the outer casing 71 to the steering housing 61.

The outer casing 71 also has female sockets 81 at its other end which threadably engage the threaded ends of the inclined tube 29 and the adjustment tube 53 to adjust the outer casing 71 with the inclined tube 29. It is fixed to the pipe 53. When the steering mechanism is assembled, it will be appreciated that the end of the outer casing 71 in the vicinity of the steering helm 17 is fixed to the steering helm 17 and thus has a relatively fixed connection. It should also be recognized that when the steering mechanism 11 is assembled, the ends of the outer casing 71 in the vicinity of the inclined tube 29 and the adjusting tube 53 are fixed to the inclined tube 29 and the adjusting tube 53. Furthermore, the steering mechanism 11
When assembled and adjusted to remove slack from this steering mechanism 11, the ramp tube 29 and the adjustment tube 53 are also fixed relative to each other, thereby also locking the corresponding ends of the outer casings 19, 21. It is recognized that this is a relatively fixed relationship.

The inner cores of the flexible push-pull cables 19, 21 are secured to the steering shaft 67 such that rotation of the steering shaft causes the inner cores 73 to move together through the nipples and within the outer casing 71. There are means available. In the construction shown in FIG. 1, such means consist of dual discs 83, 85 fixed to the steering shaft 67, and when the ends of the inner core 73 are fixedly connected to the discs 83, 85, they are therefore The cores are also fixed relative to each other.

The other ends of the cores 73 of the flexible push-pull cables 19, 21 extend through the ramp tube 29 and the adjustment tube 53, respectively. The inner core 73 is fixedly connected at its free end inside a pair of protective sleeves 93, which sleeves are connected to the lateral heads 9.
It is fixedly connected to 1.

More specifically, sleeve 93 includes a shoulder 95 engaging one side of lateral head 91 and an end portion 97 provided with a threaded portion extending through lateral head 91. A nut 99 is fastened to each end section 97, which in effect fixes the inner core 73 to the transverse head 91.

To enclose the ends of the inner core 73, protective sleeves 93 extend within the ramp tube 29 and the adjustment tube 53, respectively, and in response to movement of the lateral head 91 relative to both tubes 29,53. tube 29,5
Exercises nested within 3.

The lateral head 91 is also connected to the propulsion unit 35 to steer the propulsion unit 35 in response to the movement of the inner core 73 within the tubes 29, 53, causing the lateral head 91 to move accordingly. In the illustrated construction, the L-shaped steering link 105 is pivotally connected to the steering arm 45 at one end and pivoted at the other end about an axis parallel to the axis of the pivot connection with the steering arm 45. It is pivotally connected to the lateral head 91.

When assembling the mechanism, the flexible cables 19, 21
The outer casing 71 of the steering helm is connected to the housing 61 of the steering helm, the inner core 73 is connected to the transverse head 91, and the outer casing 71 is connected to the adjusting tube 5.
3, the conditioning tube 53 is moved axially to displace the outer casing 71 relative to the inner core 73 of the cable 21, thereby displacing the inner core of the flexible push-pull cable 19, 21. 73 and the outer casing 71 to eliminate looseness or free play. The adjustment tube 53 can be positioned to tension one of the outer casings 71 and compress the other outer casing 71.
Therefore, when assembled in this manner, when the steering wheel 69 rotates in one direction, the inner core 73 is moved into the tube 2.
9 and 53 to move the lateral head 91 and thereby swing the propulsion unit 35 in one direction. Rotation of steering wheel 69 in the opposite direction causes propulsion unit 35 to move in the opposite direction. The provision of duplex cables 19 and 21 and the adjustment pipe 5
3 relative to the ship's propulsion system 15, free play or slack in the steering mechanism 11 is eliminated, so that steering can be done immediately in response to a change in steering direction.

Although the explanation has been given above using an example of an outboard motor, the features of the present invention can also be applied to a stern drive device.

2 and 3 show another embodiment of the invention in which the universal bracket 27 does not include an integrally extending portion for supporting the adjustment tube 53. In FIGS. Instead, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the adjustment tube retaining bracket 151 is secured to the universal bracket 27 by a clamp 153. More specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamp 153 is formed by upper and lower clamping members connected to each other by bolts 159. The tightening member has a member C at each end thereof to engage with the upper surface or the lower surface of the inclined pipe 29 or the adjusting pipe 53.
- shaped portion 161, and when the bolt is tightened, the inclined tube 29, the clamp 153 and the adjusting tube 5
3 and tightly engage together. (In a typical construction, the swivel bracket 27 has two axially spaced portions 1 through which the inclined tube 29 extends.
63, and the inclined tube 29 is exposed between these portions 163. ) When the adjustment tube 53 extends through the bracket 151, the bracket 151 is thereby positioned relative to the universal bracket 27. In this regard, the bracket 151 shown in FIG. 2 extends rearwardly to engage the inner surface of the swivel bracket portion 163 to prevent relative movement of the bracket portions in the axial direction of the tubes 29,53. be.

In assembling the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamp 153 first holds the adjustment tube 53 in a generally parallel relationship with the inclined tube 29; is tightened to such an extent as to permit axial movement relative to the
When clamp 153 is thus tightened, arm 171 of bracket 151 is positioned to engage portion 163 of the universal bracket as adjustment tube 53 projects into bracket 151. The adjustment tube 53 is then adjusted axially relative to the bracket 151 and thus axially relative to the inclined tube 29 to allow free play of the flexible push-pull cables 19,21. except.
Once such free play or slack is removed, the adjustment tube 53 is secured in an adjusted position relative to the bracket 151 by the action of a pair of locking nuts 55. The screw or bolt 159 is then further tightened to secure the bracket 15.
1. Tightened to tighten the combination of adjustment tube 53, swivel bracket 27 and tilt tube 29.

Devices other than those shown in FIGS. 1-3 may be used to take up the slack from a dual flexible push-pull cable such as that shown in FIGS. 1-3. For example, flexible cable 19,
21 to the relevant one of the tubes 29, 53, if desired,
It is also possible to adjust the connection of the flexible cables 19, 21 to one of the steering helms. Therefore, the fourth
As shown in FIG. 5, the outer casing 71 of one of the flexible cables 19, 21
is adjustably connected to housing 61. More specifically, a bracket 201 is secured to the housing 61 and has a bore for receiving an adjustablely positioned locking means or adjustment tube 203. As before, the regulating tube 203 has a threaded portion on its outer surface for connection to a threaded joint 79 provided at an adjacent end of the outer casing 71. Once connected in this manner, the adjustment tube 203 is axially displaced through the hole in the bracket 201 to take up slack from the propulsion system, and is then rotatably positioned on either side of the bracket 201 on the threaded outer surface of the adjustment tube 203. It is locked in an adjusted position relative to the housing 61 by a pair of locking nuts 205. Preferably, the adjustment tube 203 has a length such that it extends through the side wall 63 of the housing 61 when in the adjusted position.

One of the outer casings 73 is connected to the ship's propulsion mechanism 15.
Instead of being adjustably connected to either the steering helm 17, if desired, the steering helm 17 can be connected to the steering helm 17 to take the slack out of the dual push-pull cable steering mechanism as shown in FIG. Inner core 73 relative to shaft 67 or lateral head 91
It can also be done by adjusting. More specifically, in the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the connection of the inner core 73 of one of the flexible cables 19, 21 to the steering shaft 67 is
1 relative to the connection of the inner core 73 of the other to take up slack in the propulsion mechanism. More specifically, in the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inner cores 73 are respectively latched to members of the type of disks 283 of any suitable size. Disc 283 is keyed to the steering shaft, while disc 285 is keyed to steering shaft 67 and disc 28 in adjacent relation to disc 283.
3 on a steering shaft 67. As a result, disk 285 becomes disk 2.
83 and the steering shaft 67 to remove slack from the steering mechanism;
When the disks 283 and 285 are angularly adjusted to remove such slack, the disk 28
3,285 can be locked in adjusted position with each other and with the steering shaft 67 by a headed nut or bolt 287 extending through an arcuate slot 289. Of course, any inner core 73 can be adjusted relative to the other inner core in this manner.

FIG. 8 shows a further modified embodiment for removing slack from the dual push-pull cable steering mechanism shown in FIG. 1, which embodiment can be used in place of the previously described embodiment. . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a flexible push-pull cable 1
The inner core 73 of one of 9, 21 is adjustably connected to the lateral head to take slack from the steering mechanism. As shown in particular in FIG. 8, the inner core 73 is suitably engaged inside an adjustably positionable adjustment tube that acts as a shield similar to the shield 93 used in the embodiment shown in FIG. connected in a stationary or fixed manner. However, the adjustment tube 301 is adjusted axially through an associated opening in the transverse head 91 to take up slack in the steering mechanism. In this regard, the outer surface of the adjustment tube 301 can be adjusted by adjusting opposed locking nuts 303 that press against both sides of the lateral head 91 to lock the adjustment tube 301 and the inner core 7 connected thereto.
3 and lateral head 91 can be adjusted to an adjusted position to take slack out of the steering mechanism.

Accordingly, the present invention provides for connecting the inner core 73 of either one of the flexible push-pull cables 19, 21 to the steering wheel 69 or the lateral head 91 of the propulsion mechanism 15.
these cables 19, 21
adjustably connecting the outer casing 71 of either one to the housing of the propulsion mechanism 15 or the steering helm. This adjustable connection allows the slack in the ship's steering mechanism of the dual flexible cables to be immediately responded to as the steering direction changes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a ship equipped with a ship propulsion system equipped with the steering mechanism of the present invention, and Figure 2 is 2-2 in Figure 3.
A partial cross-sectional view cut along the line, and Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a modified ship propulsion mechanism that can be used in the ship propulsion system shown in Figure 1. , FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a modified steering helm that can be used in the propulsion system of the ship shown in FIG.
Fig. 5 is a partial top view of the modified steering helm shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a partially cutaway view of a further modified steering helm that can be used in the ship's propulsion system shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a partial side view partially cut away and partially cut away as seen along line 7-7 in Fig. 6; 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a device for connecting a flexible push-pull cable core to a marine propulsion mechanism that can be used in the illustrated marine propulsion system; FIG. 11...Hull, 13...Propulsion device, 15...Propulsion mechanism, 17...Steering helm, 19, 21...
push-pull cable, 25...first part stern bracket, 27...second part swivel bracket, 29...device for supporting the second part, 31...end of the inner core; equipment to connect,
35... Propulsion unit which is the third part, 43...
...device for supporting the third component, 61...housing, 71...outer casing, 73...inner core, 77...device for connecting the end of the outer casing, 83, 85...end of the inner core device to connect.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A steering mechanism used together with a ship's propulsion mechanism, which includes a housing fixed to the ship's hull; a steering shaft rotatably supported by the housing; and a steering shaft connected to the ship's propulsion mechanism. a first flexible push-pull cable adapted to be connected to the ship's propulsion mechanism and including an outer casing and an inner core; a flexible push-pull cable; a connecting device fixedly connecting each outer casing to the housing; an inner cable for moving the inner core relative to the outer casing in response to rotation of the steering shaft; a connecting device connecting the core to the steering shaft;
and one of the connecting devices takes slack from the steering mechanism by manually adjustably displacing the inner core and outer casing of one of the push-pull cables relative to each other. A steering mechanism for a ship, characterized in that the steering mechanism is configured to remove the steering mechanism.